EP1714887B1 - Mouth cylindrical part of synthetic resin bottle body - Google Patents

Abstract

A mouth cylindrical part of a synthetic resin bottle body capable of providing high pressure resistance and heat resistance and stably providing high sealability and resources-saving by maximally uniformizing the effect of a thread formed portion on the crystallization of a molten resin material along the circumferential direction of the mouth cylindrical part. Threads (3) formed by extending gradually downsized start end extension parts (5) and terminal end extension parts (6) from the body part start end (a) and the body part terminal end (b) of a body part (4) are formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall (2) of the mouth cylindrical part (1) in the form of a multiple thread screw. The start end extension parts (5) and the terminal end extension parts (6) of the other threads (3) having an approximately same length are positioned overlappingly with each other in the vertical direction, and the entire part of the mouth cylindrical part (1) is whitened by thermal crystallization. Thus, shrinkage (h) can be eliminated from the upper end surface of the cylindrical wall (2) irrespective of an increase in bore of the mouth cylindrical part (1) and an increase in heat resisting temperature. Accordingly, an increase in height dimension due to an increase in bore of the mouth cylindrical part (1) can be suppressed.

Description

Technical Field
• This invention relates to a neck of a synthetic resin bottle that is drawn and blow molded from a synthetic resin material, and in particular, to the structure of a neck that has pressure tightness, heat resistance, and a high, stable sealing property and shows a resource saving advantage.
Background Art
• The neck of a bottle is given high heat resistance and rigidity by whitening the neck in the thermal crystallization treatment. Such a neck is used for the synthetic resin bottle to be filled with tea, fruit juice, liquid seasoning, retort-packed food and the like at a high temperature or to be subjected to an intermediate process, such as a thermal sterilization process, and is used especially for the biaxially drawn, blow-molded bottle made of a polyethylene terephthalate resin (hereinafter referred to as PET bottle). (SeePatent Document 1.)
• [Patent Document 1]: Application No.1998-058527
• A multi-threaded screw structure is adopted to shortcut the rotating movement required to fit or remove the screw cap or to reduce the amount of synthetic resin material required to mold a neck. The multi-threaded screw structure is utilized, especially for most of wide-mouth bottles, so that the neck does not become too tall.
• In most cases, the cap screwed on the PET bottle is not an aluminum pilfer-proof cap that requires large screwing strength, but a synthetic resin pilfer-proof cap that does not require much strength. The neck of a PET bottle can have the wall thickness and bead ring size that are smaller than those used in the case where the aluminum pilfer-proof cap is put on. Thus, the synthetic resin pilfer-proof cap gives a higher resource-saving effect.
• As shown in the rolled-out view ofFig. 11, the neck in the conventional art is provided with a number ofscrew threads 30, which amount to three inFig. 8, and thesethreads 30 are disposed at an equal central angle on the outer surface ofround neck wall 2. Eachmain thread 40 primarily carries out the screwing function of eachscrew thread 30. The anterior half of themain thread 40 of ascrew thread 30 is located above the posterior half of a neighboringscrew thread 30. In turn, the posterior half of themain thread 40 of thefirst screw thread 30 is located beneath the anterior half of themain thread 40 of still anotherscrew thread 30.
• Eachscrew thread 30 is provided with astarting portion 50 at the start of themain thread 40 and an endingportion 60 at the end of themain thread 40. Thisstarting portion 50 has reduced dimensions for smooth screw engagement and release from the mold. The endingportion 60 too has reduced dimensions for smooth release from the mold.
• Themain thread 40 of ascrew thread 30 is located above themain thread 40 of anotherscrew thread 30 in a main zone that performs the screwing function. Between a main zone and another neighboring main zone there is an auxiliary zone that helps the main zones perform the screwing function. This auxiliary zone includes astarting portion 50 of ascrew thread 30, an endingportion 60 of anotherscrew thread 30, and a part of themain thread 40 of still anotherscrew thread 30.
• The screw engagement between the neck and a screw cap is achieved in the main zones, which are equally spaced in the circumferential direction and in which the above-described screwing function is performed. On the other hand, the above-described auxiliary zones do not need to accept large screwing and fitting force. Therefore, thestarting portion 50 and the endingportion 60 of thesescrew threads 30 are molded in sizes as small as possible within a range in which mold release and screw engagement can be achieved smoothly.
• WO 02/98755 A1 shows a neck having the features cited in the preamble ofclaim 1.
Disclosure of the InventionProblem to be solved by the invention
• The above-described conventional art had a problem in that there occurs contractile deformation, causing sinks (h) (SeeFig. 11) in the top end face of theround neck wall 2 and thus giving damage to the sealing property of the neck. This contractile deformation was incurred by the thermal crystallization treatment conducted under conditions of decreased thickness of theround neck wall 2, a large reduction in dimensions, especially height and width, of thebead ring 7, and a high temperature of about 180°C used to obtain heat resistance that makes the bottle usable as the container of retort-packed foods.
• For example, in the case shown inFig. 11, it was confirmed that there occurred large sinks (h) (actually having the size in the order of a tenth of 1 millimeter, but was shown inFig. 11 in an enlarged view for easiness to understand) in the area covering the central angle position in the range of 20 to 40 degrees toward the screwing direction from the auxiliary screwing zone.
• It is believed that these sinks (h) have occurred because of decreased thickness of theround neck wall 2 and a large reduction in dimensions, especially height and width, of thebead ring 7. Under these conditions, the flow of molten PET is affected by the thread-formed portions at the time when the neck is injection molded, causing a difference in the degree of the molecular orientation. This difference has a large effect on the uniform thermal crystallization treatment of the entire neck, and creates a large difference in the degree of crystallization among various portions of the neck.
• This invention has been made to solve the above-described problem found in conventional art. The technical problem of this invention is to equalize the effect of thread-formed portions on the molecular orientation of the molten resin material as much as possible along the circumferential direction of the neck. The object of this invention is to obtain a resource-saving neck having high resistance to pressure and heat and high, stable sealing property.
Means of solving the problem
• In the following description, the main thread zone is defined as a circumferentially extending zone of the neck where at least two main threads are disposed, with one thread laid above the other. The thread extension zone is defined as a circumferentially extending zone of the neck where at least one starting extension of a screw thread is disposed above the ending extension of another screw thread.
• The means of carrying out the invention ofclaim 1 to solve the above-described technical problem is a neck of a synthetic resin bottle comprising a round neck wall and multiple screw threads of a multi-threaded screw structure disposed on the outer surface of the round neck wall, each screw thread comprising a main thread in charge of a screwing function, a starting extension extending from a main thread start point of the main thread with width and height thereof being reduced gradually from the dimensions of said main thread and an ending extension extending from a main thread end point of the main thread with width and height thereof being reduced gradually from the dimensions of said main thread ,
  wherein the starting extension of a screw thread is vertically disposed above the ending extension of another thread, with both extensions in the same length, and wherein the neck is entirely whitened by thermal crystallization.
• The sinks or dents caused by thermal crystallization in the top end face of the conventional neck must have developed presumably in the following mechanism: An injection-molded preform in a test-tube shape is used for biaxial drawing and blow molding. In the injection molding operation, a molten resin is injected into the mold through the preform bottom position and is allowed to flow toward the top end face of the neck. At that time, a large difference in the resin flow state grows in the circumferential direction of the neck, depending on the layout of screw threads on the outer surface of the round neck wall, including the position of a starting portion or an ending portion of each screw thread, the number of screw thread rows that are in parallel, and the like.
• The temperature of the resin goes down in the vicinity of the top end face of the round neck wall because the flow is coming close to an end in this portion. The differences in the pressure state and in the molecular orientation grow large under the effect of the flow state. Because the resin is in the final stage of flow, with subsequent clamping and cooling processes waiting, there is only a short period available for the molecular orientation to be absorbed. Therefore, in the molded product, there remains a difference in the state of molecular orientation that has occurred during the flow. This state of remaining molecular orientation is likely to cause a large difference in the degree of shrinkage in the thermal crystallization behavior.
• In the invention ofclaim 1, the starting extension is disposed above the ending extension, in which the large-size portion of the starting extension is disposed above the small-size head of the ending extension, and the small-size head of the starting extension is disposed above the large-size portion of the ending extension. Thus, the starting extension and the ending extension are complementary to each other in their positions.
• Due to the mutual complementation of vertical unevenness, the flow state of molten PET can be equalized in the circumferential direction of the neck including the starting and ending extensions. As a result, the degree of oriented crystallization can be made uniform, and thus the sinks caused by thermal crystallization can be controlled effectively in the top end face of the neck.
• The invention ofclaim 2 includes the configuration of the invention ofclaim 1 and also comprises that the starting extension and the ending extension are formed, with width and height thereof being reduced gradually at the same, roughly constant rates from the start point and the end point of the main thread.
• In the invention ofclaim 2, the starting and ending extensions are formed, with dimensions reduced gradually at the same, roughly constant rates from those of the main thread measured at the start point and the end point of the main thread, but in the direction opposite to each other. The two extensions have the same structure except that the directions are opposite. Therefore, the extent of unevenness obtained from complementary positions of extensions is roughly equivalent to that obtained from the main threads of screw threads.
• The invention ofclaim 3 includes the configuration of the invention ofclaim 1 or 2 and also comprises that the neck has a multi-threaded spiral structure of screw threads in a number of n, with n being 2 or a larger integer, wherein main thread zones amounting to the number of n are formed in a central angle range of a little less than 360°/n, in which zones the main threads of at least two screw threads are disposed obliquely in parallel, with one main thread laid above the other, and wherein each thread extension zone is formed between two of said main thread zones that are equally spaced around the neck, with the starting extension of at least one screw thread being disposed above the ending extension of another screw thread in these thread extension zones.
• In the invention ofclaim 3, the main thread zones amounting to the number of n are formed in a central angle range of a little less than 360°/n, and the main threads of at least two screw threads are disposed obliquely in parallel, with one thread laid above the other, in these main thread zones. Therefore, the central angle range of a thread extension zone is calculated by:$$\left[\left(\mathrm{360}\mathrm{°}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{n}\right)\mathrm{-}\left(\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{f}\mathrm{}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{}\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{}\mathrm{z}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{e}\right)\right]$$

  

  This makes it possible to set the central angle range of the thread extension zone and to set a short length for the starting extension and the ending extension properly.
• The invention ofclaim 4 includes the configuration of the invention ofclaim 1, 2, or 3, and also comprises forming a groove in the outer surface of a round neck wall in the circumferential direction at a height above the screw threads, at a specified central angle position, and in a specified central angle range to protect the neck against sinks, which tend to develop in the top end face of the round neck wall under the effect of thermal crystallization treatment, and then whitening the neck by the thermal crystallization treatment.
• The configuration concerning the groove ofclaim 4 is added, if necessary, to the configuration concerning the positions of the starting extension and the ending extension of each screw thread according toclaim 1 to 3, where the starting extension is vertically disposed above the ending extension. This groove configuration is aimed at effectively controlling the sinks caused by thermal crystallization in the top end face of the neck.
• In the invention ofclaim 4, a peripheral groove or groove segments are formed in the upper portion of the outer neck wall in the circumferential direction, at a height above the screw threads, at a specified central angle position, and in a specified central angle range while consideration is given to the layout of the screw threads. The entire flow of resin can be adjusted by narrowing the resin flow passage at the circumferential positions where the groove is formed. Because of this adjustment, it is possible to reduce the differences in the flow state in the circumferential direction and in the state of molecular orientation and to control effectively the occurrence of sinks that develop in the top end face of the neck due to the thermal crystallization treatment.
• The groove formed in the round neck wall can be effective even if it is about 1/10 as deep as the wall thickness. The groove serves to prevent the sinks from occurring, within the limit that no damage is given to the seal formed between a portion of outer surface right under the top end face of the round neck wall and the upper portion of the inside wall of a screw cap. In addition, the groove can be made inconspicuous in its external appearance.
• It is likely that this groove has the above-described action and effect because the groove is placed above the screw threads and in close vicinity of the end of resin flow where the resin has a considerably low temperature and a high viscosity. Under these conditions, it is fully possible to adjust the state of molecular orientation merely by changing the slight depth of the flow passage.
• An optimum shape of the groove can be basically determined from experiments by checking on the extent of sinks. The groove can be variously formed by changing such factors as the number of groove or grooves, the height at which the groove is disposed laterally, circumferential position and range, groove depth, and groove width.
• The means of carrying out the invention ofclaim 5 comprises that the groove ofclaim 4 is formed around the neck as intermittent groove segments.
• Under the configuration ofclaim 5, the groove can be formed intermittently as groove segments, depending on the observed state of sink occurrence. Thus, the flow state is adjusted by simple-shaped groove segments in the circumferential direction so that the sinks can be controlled effectively.
• The invention ofclaim 6 includes the configuration of the invention ofclaim 3, and also comprises that the groove is formed as peripheral groove segments around the neck in the outer neck wall at the height above screw threads, except in the thread extension zones, to control the sinks caused by thermal crystallization in the top end face of the neck.
• In the invention ofclaim 6, the groove is formed around the neck, except in the thread extension zones where molten resin flow passages undergo a larger change than in the main thread zones. If the width of resin flow is narrowed in the area where the groove has been formed, then the effect of the change in the resin flow state of the thread extension zones can be adjusted at the time of injection molding of the preform. Thus, the sinks can be controlled effectively when the groove is combined with the configuration of the starting and ending extensions that are disposed vertically with one above the other.
• The invention ofclaim 7 includes the configuration of the invention ofclaim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, and also comprises that a bead ring is disposed on the outer surface of the round neck wall right under the threaded area and is used to fit a pilfer-proof cap made of a synthetic resin.
• In the invention ofclaim 7, a bead ring is formed so that a pilfer-proof cap made of a synthetic resin can be fitted to the neck by means of this bead ring. In addition, the effect of screw threads on the molecular orientation can be softened to some extent by forming the bead ring.
• The invention ofclaim 8 includes the invention ofclaim 7, and also comprises that a bead ring and a neck ring are disposed in the lower portion of the neck below the screw threads and that the neck including these bead ring and neck ring is whitened by the thermal crystallization treatment.
• In the invention ofclaim 8, the bead ring and the neck ring are disposed, if necessary, in the lower portion of the neck, and the neck including these rings is whitened by thermal crystallization. Because of these bead ring and neck ring, relatively thick portions are formed peripherally in the lower portion of the neck, and can be used to soften the effect of screw threads on the resin flow to some extent.
Effects of the Invention
• This invention having the above-described configuration has the following effects: Due to the mutual complementation of unevenness, the invention ofclaim 1 enables the flow state of molten PET to be equalized in the circumferential direction of the neck including the starting and ending extensions. As a result, the degree of crystallization can be made uniform, and thus the sinks caused by thermal crystallization can be controlled effectively in the top end face of the neck. The invention ofclaim 1 also enables the neck to have a strong and stable sealing property.
• In the invention ofclaim 2, an improved extent of unevenness is obtained by the positional complementation between the starting extension and the ending extension, in which the former is disposed vertically above the latter. Since the extent of this complemented unevenness is almost equivalent to the extent of unevenness obtained from the main screw threads, the molecular orientation state can be uniformly distributed over the entire periphery of the neck. Therefore, a sufficient preventive effect against sinks can be obtained from complemented unevenness.
• In the invention ofclaim 3, it becomes possible to set a central angle range suitably in the thread extension zone, where the starting extension is disposed above the ending extension, and thereby, to set a suitable length for both of the starting and ending extensions so that the entire multi-threaded screw structure can be simplified. For example, if the main thread zones are formed in a central angle range of a little less than 360°/n, then it is possible to reduce the central angle range of the thread extension zone and to set a short length for the starting extension and the ending extension, which are disposed vertically with one extension above the other.
• In the invention ofclaim 4, the resin flow state is adjusted by forming the groove in the circumferential direction at a specified position and in a central angle range. Coupled with the configuration concerning the positions of the starting and ending extensions of screw threads, with the starting extension being disposed above the ending extension, this adjustment serves to reduce the differences in both of the state of the flow in the circumferential direction and the molecular orientation state. Thus, the sinks caused by the thermal crystallization treatment can be prevented effectively from developing in the top end face of the neck.
• In the invention ofclaim 5, the groove can be formed intermittently as groove segments, depending on the observed state of sink occurrence. Thus, the state of flow in the circumferential direction is adjusted effectively by the groove segments in a simple shape.
• In the invention ofclaim 6, the resin flow state in the thread extension zones can be adjusted so as to offset the effect of changes in the resin flow and to control the sinks effectively.
• In the invention ofclaim 7, the pilfer-proof cap made of a synthetic resin can be fitted to the neck, and the effect of screw threads on the molecular orientation crystallization can be reduced to some extent. Therefore, the controlling effect against sinks can be further increased.
• In the invention ofclaim 8, the sinks can be more effectively controlled because the bead ring and the neck ring are used to soften the effect of screw threads on the resin flow to some extent.
Brief Description of the Drawings
• Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the bottle adopted in one embodiment of this invention.
• Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown inFig. 1.
• Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of an important part of the embodiment shown inFig. 1.
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of an important part of the embodiment shown inFig. 2.
• Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of an important part of the embodiment shown inFig. 4, cut vertically at the position (e).
• Fig. 6 is an explanatory plan view showing the relationship between main thread zones and thread extension zones of the neck shown inFig. 1.
• Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the neck shown inFig. 6, which has been rolled out.
• Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of a bottle with the neck adopted in the second embodiment of this invention
• Fig. 9 is an explanatory plan view showing the positional relationship among the main thread zones, the thread extension zones, and the groove of the neck shown inFig. 8.
• Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the neck shown inFig. 9, which has been rolled out.
• Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the rolled-out screw threads in a multi-threaded screw structure found in conventional art.
Explanation of Codes
• 1 ; Neck
• 2 ; Round neck wall
• 3 ; Screw thread
• 4 ; Main thread
• 5 ; Starting extension
• 6 ; Ending extension
• 7 ; Bead ring
• 8 ; Neck ring
• 9 ; Body
• 10 ; Shoulder
• 11; Groove
• 12 ; Groove-missing portion
• 30 ; Screw thread
• 40 Main thread
• 50 ; Starting portion
• 60 ; Ending portion
• a ; Main thread start point
• b ; Main thread end point
• c ; Position
• d ; Position
• e ; Position
• f; Main thread zone
• g ; Thread extension zone
• h ; Sink
Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
• This invention is further described with respect to preferred embodiments, now referring to the drawings.Figs. 1-7 describe the neck in the first embodiment of this invention.Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an entire bottle having the neck in the first embodiment of this invention. The bottle is a biaxially drawn, blow molded PET bottle, which comprises abody 9 having a bottomed cylindrical shape, ashoulder 10 having a truncated dodecagonal cone shape, which is disposed at the upper end of thebody 9, and aneck 1 according to this invention, which stands upright from theshoulder 10.
• Theneck 1 has multiple screw threads 3 (three threads in the embodiment shown inFig. 1) of a continuous, multi-threaded screw structure disposed on the upper half of the outer surface of around neck wall 2. Right under this multi-threaded structure there is abead ring 7 exclusively used together with a pilfer-proof cap made of a synthetic resin. Thisbead ring 7 is short in height and is not connected to thescrew threads 3. Aneck ring 8 serving as a support ring is disposed at the lower end of the outer surface of theround neck wall 2.
• Theneck 1 including theneck ring 8 is entirely whitened by thermal crystallization (SeeFig. 3). This thermal crystallization treatment is not limited to theneck 1 only. As shown inFig. 3 of this embodiment, thermal crystallization can also be applied to the upper end portion of neck base, which denotes a portion connecting theneck 1 to theshoulder 10. In some cases, roughly entire portion of the neck base can be thermally crystallized to a low degree of crystallization.
• Eachscrew thread 3 comprises themain thread 4 that primarily carries out the screwing function, the startingextension 5 and the endingextension 6 that extend from the start point (a) and the end point (b) of eachmain thread 4, with width and height being reduced gradually at the same constant rates from those of themain thread 4. The endingextension 6 has the identical structure with the startingextension 5, but faces the direction opposite thereto.
• As shown inFigs. 4 and5, the startingextension 5 has a structure in which its width and height are reduced gradually at the same, roughly constant rates as those of the endingextension 6, as the startingextension 5 extends from the position (c), which is the same point as the start point (a) of the main thread, through positions (d) and (e) toward the tip. The endingextension 6 has the same structure but is only in the direction opposite the startingextension 5.
• Eachscrew thread 3 is formed in a central angle range of 280°. Within this range, themain thread 4 covers a range of 200°, and the starting/ending extensions 5 and 6 cover a range of 40° respectively.
• As shown inFigs. 6 and7, under the spiral structure ofscrew threads 3 formed on theneck 1, there are formed the main thread zones (f) in which a part of amain thread 4 is disposed above a part of a main thread of anotherscrew thread 3 and the thread extension zones (g) in which astarting extension 5 of ascrew thread 3 is disposed above an endingextension 6 of still anotherscrew thread 3.
• Ascrew thread 3 is intertwined with twoother screw threads 3 in the spiral structure. All in all, three main thread zones (f) are formed, with each zone (f) having a central angle range of 80°.
• A thread extension zone (g) comprises a startingextension 5 of ascrew thread 3, a part of themain thread 4 of a neighboringscrew thread 3, and an endingextension 6 of another neighboringscrew thread 3. Structurally, the startingextension 5 is disposed above the portion of the main thread of a neighboringscrew thread 3, and this portion of themain thread 4 is disposed above the endingextension 6. Each thread extension zone (g) is disposed between two main thread zones (f) and has a central angle range of 40°.
• As described above, the startingextension 5 and the endingextension 6 in a thread extension zone (g) has the same structure with an exception that the two extensions are opposite to each other in their direction. Since the width and height of these extensions are gradually reduced at the same, roughly constant rates, the combination of the starting and ending extensions is disposed vertically at the position of one above the other, and the two extensions are in a mutually complementary relationship as far as uneven height is concerned.
• More specifically, the extent of unevenness resulted from amain thread 4 can be achieved to a roughly equivalent level by a combination of the starting and endingextensions 5 and 6 in this thread extension zone (g), in which the starting extension is disposed above the ending extension.
• Therefore, a combination of a startingextension 5, amain thread 4, and an endingextension 6 is formed in each thread extension zone (g), and the extent of vertically observed unevenness in the thread extension zone (g) becomes roughly equal to the extent of unevenness developed by twomain threads 4 in the main thread zone (f).
• Thus, the main thread zone (f) and the thread extension zone (g) are roughly equivalent to each other in the extent of vertical unevenness brought about by thescrew threads 3. As a result, the two zones are also a good match in the degree of the molecular orientation of the PET material. Therefore, the sinks (h) can be prevented stably from developing in the top end face of theround neck wall 2.
• In thefirst embodiment shown in the drawings, the startingextensions 5 and the endingextensions 6 of thescrew threads 3 have a length corresponding to the same central angle as the range of a thread extension zone (g) formed between the start point (a) of a main thread and the end point (b) of another main thread. The length of extensions is not necessarily limited to such a length, but a length slightly exceeding this central angle of the thread extension zone (g) is allowed.
• Theneck 1 of thefirst embodiment shown in the drawings is 20 mm high and 38 mm in diameter, and is provided with three screw threads in the spiral structure although the multi-threaded screw structure is not specified to three screw threads. If the bottle needs to have a larger diameter than 38 mm, while keeping the height at 20 mm, then the number of screw threads can be adequately increased to more than three in response to the widened diameter.
• Figs. 8-10 show the neck in the second embodiment of this invention.Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of an entire bottle with the neck in the second embodiment of this invention.Fig. 9 is an explanatory plan view showing the positional relationship among the main thread zones (f), the thread extension zones (g), and thegroove 11 of theneck 1.Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram shown inFig. 9, which has been rolled out. Theneck 1 in the second embodiment has the same shape as the neck in the first embodiment including the multi-threaded screw structure, except that theperipheral groove 11 is formed intermittently at positions right above the screw threads on the outer surface of theround neck wall 2.
• Groove-missingportions 12 are disposed in three thread extension zones (g). Except in these groove-missingportions 12, thegroove 11 is formed intermittently as groove segments (SeeFigs. 8 and9). In this embodiment, thegroove 11 is about 1/10 as deep as the thickness of theround neck wall 2.
• The layout of the groove-missingportions 12 can be determined from experiments by observing the positions (SeeFig. 11) of sinks that have occurred in theneck 1 having nogroove 11 and correlating the positions of sinks with the layout ofscrew threads 3, while giving consideration to the resin flow state.
• In this embodiment, thegroove 11 is formed intermittently as peripheral groove segments, and the groove-missingportions 12 are disposed correspondingly, taking into consideration that the sinks (h) frequently develop at the central angle position in the range of 20 to 40 degrees toward the screwing direction from the main thread start points (a) ofrespective screw threads 3, as shown inFig. 11.
• In other words, it has been attempted to adjust the entire resin flow by means of thegroove 11 to narrow the resin flow in the portions other than the groove-missingportions 12 in the vicinity of the end of resin flow. The sinks are prevented from occurring by forming thegroove 11 intermittently as peripheral groove segments.
• The resin flow exhibits complicated behavior in the vicinity of the top end face of the neck during the time when preform is being injection molded. Although mechanism is not yet clear, the sinks occur frequently in the neck, as shown inFig. 11, at three points determined by a central angle position in the range of 20 to 40 degrees from respective main thread start points (a). However, it has been found that the behavior of resin flow or crystallization can be adjusted by thegroove 11 at the end of the resin flow, even in the case of agroove 11 about 1/10 as deep as the thickness of theround neck wall 2. As practiced in this embodiment, this can be done simply by correlating the positions of sinks with the layout ofscrew threads 3 and by changing the shape of thegroove 11 accordingly.
• The groove can be utilized as a means of adjusting the resin flow state in various manner. Not only the position of the groove, but also the groove depth and width can also be changed as long as the groove does not give damage to the sealing property that should be established between the upper portion on the outer surface of the round neck wall and the screw cap. In addition, plural peripheral grooves can be disposed around the neck. If necessary, the groove configuration can be combined with the configuration concerning the positions of the starting extension and the ending extension of each screw thread, in which the starting extension is vertically disposed above the ending extension.
Industrial Applicability
• As described above, the neck of this invention effectively controls the sinks caused by the thermal crystallization treatment in the top end face of the neck. The neck of this invention is applicable to the retort-packed foods, which necessitate thermal crystallization treatment conducted at a high temperature of about 180°C, and is expected to have a wide range of uses.

Claims (8)

1. A neck (1) of a synthetic resin bottle comprising:

   a round neck wall (2); and

   multiple screw threads (3) in a multi-threaded screw structure disposed on the outer surface of said round neck wall (2), each of said screw threads (3) comprising a main thread (4) in charge of a screwing function,
   a starting extension (5) extending from a main thread start point (a) of the main thread (4) with width and height thereof being reduced gradually from the dimensions of said main thread (4) and an ending extension (6) extending from a main thread end point (b) of the main thread (4) with width and height thereof being reduced gradually from the dimensions of said main thread (4), said ending extension (6) having the same length as the starting extension (5)characterised in that
   the starting extension (5) of a screw thread is vertically disposed above the ending extension (6) of another screw thread (3), and

   wherein said neck (1) is entirely whitened by thermal crystallization.
2. The neck of the synthetic resin bottle according to claim 1 wherein the starting extension (5) and the ending extension (6) are formed by reducing the width and height gradually at the same, roughly constant rates from a main thread start point (a) and an main thread end point (b).
3. The neck of the synthetic resin bottle according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said neck has a multi-threaded screw structure comprising screw threads in a number of n, with n being 2 or a larger integer, wherein main thread zones (f) amounting to the number of n are formed in a central angle range of a little less than 360°/n, in which zones (f) the rows of main threads (4) of at least two screw threads (3) are disposed obliquely in parallel, with one main thread laid above the other, and wherein each of thread extension zones (g) is formed between two of said main thread zones (f) that are equally spaced around the neck, with the starting extension (5) of at least one of said screw threads (3) being disposed above the ending extension (6) of another screw thread (3) in each thread extension zone (g).
4. The neck of the synthetic resin bottle according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein a groove (11) is formed in the outer surface of a round neck wall (2) in the circumferential direction and disposed at a height above screw threads (3), at a specified central angle position, and in a specified central angle range;to prevent the occurrence of sinks, which tend to develop in top end face of the round neck wall (2) under the effect of the thermal crystallization treatment.
5. The neck of the synthetic resin bottle according to claim 4, wherein the groove (11) is formed around the neck as intermittent groove segments.
6. The neck of the synthetic resin bottle according to claim 3 wherein a groove (11) is formed peripherally in the portions other than the thread extension zones (g) and is disposed in the outer surface of a round neck wall (2) at a height above screw threads (3) to control the sinks caused by thermal crystallization treatment.
7. The neck of the synthetic resin bottle according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein a bead ring (7) is disposed on the outer surface of the round neck wall (2) right under the threaded area and is used to fit a pilfer-proof cap made of a synthetic resin.
8. The neck of the synthetic resin bottle according to Claim 7 wherein the neck is of a structure in which the neck ring (8) is disposed below the bead ring (7) and wherein the neck including the bead ring (7) and the neck ring (8) is whitened by the thermal crystallization treatment.

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